Ancient Aztec art was primarily a form of religious expression and a means for paying tribute to their gods. In addition, various forms of Aztec art were used to assist in communication. These beautifully crafted designs are still admired today. Aztec art such as pictographs, paintings and warrior drawings can still be seen on the walls of their temples and within their ancient artifacts.
Aztecs were not only famous for there Masks, Paintings, Carvings and Sculptures, they were also famous for there songs and poetry.
As you can see in Figure 2, it is The Aztec Sun Stone, also known as The Aztec Calendar Stone, this is placed in the National Museum Of Anthropology in Mexico City. The calendar stone is perhaps the most famous sculpture in Aztec art history. This sculpture weighs an amazing 22 metric tons and is 12 feet in diameter. The face of the sun god can be found carved in the center of the stone. Circular bands symbolizing the heavens and the days are located around the face.
Art in the Aztec Empire
Aztec Art and Pottery
Pottery was another type of Aztec Art, pottery was not only useful to the Aztecs; it was also an important religious craft within the Aztec arts. Pottery of all shapes and sizes depicted a variety of designs that were meaningful to the Aztec culture and religion. The designs typically placed on the pottery were meant to depict or to refer to specific Aztec gods or to represent an Aztec tribe.
Figure 3 is a bird drawn by a famous artist and carved on a very expensive type of rock.
Pottery was another type of Aztec Art, pottery was not only useful to the Aztecs; it was also an important religious craft within the Aztec arts. Pottery of all shapes and sizes depicted a variety of designs that were meaningful to the Aztec culture and religion. The designs typically placed on the pottery were meant to depict or to refer to specific Aztec gods or to represent an Aztec tribe.
Figure 3 is a bird drawn by a famous artist and carved on a very expensive type of rock.
Aztec Art and Sculptures
In addition to the pottery made of clay, the Aztecs showed their deep religion through a variety of sculptures made of stones. Stone sculpture was a major type of Aztec art, and Aztec sculptors surpassed their earlier Mesoamerican ancestors in technical and aesthetic abilities.They spent days carving wall sculptures to be placed within their temples. In general, the stone sculptures were created to represent their gods or the sacrificial victims. In fact, the Aztecs carved small yet realistic figures of animals and people out of jade, obsidian, and quartz. A famous form of Aztec art is the ancient pictographs. Pictographs were small pictures that represented objects or sounds. These Aztec drawings were used extensively within their counting system. Stone sculpture was a major type of Aztec art, and Aztec sculptors surpassed their earlier Mesoamerican ancestors in technical and aesthetic abilities. Figure 4 is an Aztec Sculpture. |
Aztec Art and Rituals
Aztec craftsmen were also called upon to create a variety of specialized items to be used in their religious ceremonies and other rituals, such as Aztec masks and special Aztec warrior art. The designs of the Aztec warrior art were often used as the basis for tattoos representing various warrior accomplishments. Often, these tattoos were added to the bodies of warriors during special rituals and ceremonies. The mask designs generally depicted gods or important people within the Aztec culture. Figure 5 is a famous Aztec pottery |
What was Ancient Aztec Art like?
Techniques and themes in Aztec art were influenced by hundreds, perhaps thousands of years of artistry in this part of the world.Few of the local languages actually had a word for "art". The Aztecs called special things like this toltecat. If you were creating and selling art, you may be an exception, but some of the art would have to go to the upper classes. They were the ones that generally were the keepers of the precious objects in the empire. Neither did the civilization keep all its art to itself. Ancient Aztec art was traded, and much of the materials used were imported from other peoples. Figure 7 is a famous Aztec flower called "The Pearl Flower" |
Characteristics of Aztec Art
Ancient Aztec art was actually very lifelike . Many of their statues of people, as well as animals, look amazingly realistic. They also show age, and a great deal of expression. The art looks alive - but then again, much of it is about death itself. It again reflects the people's passion to avoid death and disaster, and then to conquer even that if it came. Figure 8 is a famous Aztec sculpture |
Music and Dance
Music and Dance were holy arts, as Aztecs believed,performed mainly at rituals and ceremonies. Drums were the instruments most commonly mentioned, and most depicted in drawings. Figure 9 is a famous Aztec festival using masks and drams designed by artists. |
Common Types of Aztec Art
There was a rich variety of art in the empire. Richly coloured clothing, architecture, ceremonial knives, head dresses - many things were adorned with jewels and feathers. Stories were commonly written in pictures, giving more opportunity for art. The pictographs may show the most recent conquest, or the sacrifices of the priests, or even daily life. Statues made of stone, as well as Aztec masks, pottery, shields, knives, carved pillars and painted walls. Art could be made with gold, silver, copper, jewels, feathers, coral, clay and stone, to name a few. Mosaics are very common in ancient Aztec art |
Themes in ancient Aztec Art The people of the empire had an appreciation for a wide variety of insects, birds, fish and animals. A lot of their art reflected this. Jaguars, ducks, monkeys, snakes, deer, dogs - all these were common themes. Of course, a lot of the art that has been preserved was religion related. The gods were often depicted, and they themselves often resembled animals of various kinds. The drawings of the gods were often sharp and angular, brightly coloured. Art would often show gods, or priests dressed as gods in a ritual, or Aztec warriors in their finery. |